When will Age of Empires Online be available?

How do I sign up for the Beta?

Anyone interested in the Closed Beta can apply at http://www.ageofempiresonline.com/beta. We will be selecting participants for the Beta over several weeks. If you applied and did not get in right away, just give it some time.

How much will it cost?

Will there be a retail product, or will Age of Empires Online be available as a download only?

What are the system requirements for Age of Empires Online?

We are still finalizing our performance and are not ready to announce official system requirements. However, we can say that we are working hard to make the game work on as wide a variety of machines as possible. We will be supporting Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

Will Age of Empires Online be available on Windows Phone 7 or Xbox 360?

Why did you decide to bring back Age in an online version?

When we looked at continuing this franchise, we looked at how people are playing games today, and the social and connected experiences that people increasingly crave. It's about being able to connect to the entertainment we want, and share it with the people we care about-nearly anywhere. By building Age of Empires Online with Games for Windows - LIVE at the core, we create a rich social gaming experience. With Age of Empires Online, we've married the best of traditional Age gameplay with the connectivity of LIVE and with fresh features that broaden the appeal to brand-new audiences.

How does the game integrate with Games for Windows - LIVE?

Age of Empires Online will be available for download worldwide via Games for Windows - LIVE, allowing you to download and play from almost anywhere. It will also offer a deep multiplayer experience, including cooperative quests and classic competitive matches, as well as in-game chat. Like every Games for Windows - LIVE title, Age of Empires Online comes with achievements, an online profile and friends list unified with Xbox LIVE, the ability to send voice and text messages across platforms, and much more.

How many achievement points can I get with Age of Empires Online?

How does the game work online? Can I play offline? Do I have to have an Internet connection?

With Games for Windows - LIVE at the core, Age of Empires Online requires an Internet connection to enjoy the game at its full potential. The social experience of the game requires being connected to our servers at all times. There is no offline play.

What are the civilizations? Will there be additional civilizations throughout the life of the game?

Why did you decide to launch with the Greek civilization?

The ancient Greeks are a well-known civilization, and their history includes many interesting events and personalities that will be familiar to people. In going back to this era of history, the Greeks were a natural choice.

Are the campaigns in Age of Empires Online based off of historically accurate sources?

The campaigns in Age of Empires Online are based on historical periods that provide rich settings for storytelling. Our primary focus is on making the game an enjoyable experience for our users. History provides the setting; from there, you make your own story.

What can you tell us about the single-player add-on content? Can we expect to see a new story-driven campaign?

What is the capital city? How does it work?

Your capital city serves as your home base and main source of your civilization. Because it lives online, your capital city continues to gather resources and create units even when you aren't logged in. How you develop your capital city determines your capabilities throughout the rest of the game, and ultimately the direction of your civilization.

What are quests and how do they work?

Quests are a core part of the Age of Empires Online gameplay, allowing you to display your skills and earn rewards for use in your capital city. Quests make use of the full range of gameplay, including cooperative and single-player missions, and more, allowing you to build your skills and empire through story-driven missions.

Will there be consequences for not playing?

Why did Microsoft choose Robot to develop Age of Empires Online? Why dissolve Ensemble only to bring back the franchise?

Microsoft Game Studios is always evaluating its business model to determine what is best for both gamers and the company. Many factors were considered in the difficult decision to close Ensemble Studios, but we feel it helped us better align with our goals and long-term development plans. Robot is made up of many of the creative minds behind classic Age of Empires titles, and we're incredibly proud of the work we've done together on Age of Empires Online.

Why the new look? What was wrong with the graphics before? It looks more "cartoony" now.

Age of Empires includes a refreshed art style with an unprecedented level of detail. The new design is fun and approachable, and we believe it will help invite a brand-new audience to experience this classic franchise. It will still offer gameplay depth for fans of the franchise as well.

The "Age" franchise has an incredibly loyal fan base. Do you think this new iteration will alienate any of your fans?

Absolutely not. Age of Empires Online stays true to its roots with traditional RTS gameplay, a deep player-versus-player mode and detailed historical settings. From the creation of your capital city, to resource management and competitive matches, Age of Empires fans will feel right at home.